METABOLISM OF SELENIUM AND SULFUR IN PLANTS. Final Report, July 1, 1950- October 31, 1960

Technical Report · Tue Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4075474

Whitehead, E I

Results are summarized from a series of studies on the metabolism of selenium and sulfur by plants. Sr/sup 75/was used as a tracer in studies on the toxic effects of selenium in wheat plants and the effects of the form of selenium supplied in the soil and degree of maturity of the plants on results. The volatility of selenium in plant and animal tissues was studied, using Se/sup 75/ as a tracer. Arsenic was found to delay the uptake of selenium by rat tissues and to decrease selenium exhalation. The effect of microbial metabolism on the evolution of volatile selenium from soil was determined. Protein fractions of wheat plants, grown on soil containing trace amounts of Se/sup 75/ were separated chromatographically on starch columns, and the selenium contents were determined. Results are included from tracer studies on the substitution of selenium for sulfur in amino acids synthesized by wheat plants; the effects of selenate, selenite, sulfate, and phosphate on the uptake of S/sup 35/, Se/sup 75/ and P/sup 32/ by whea t plants; the toxic effects of arsenite, arsenate, selenite, and selenate on the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisae; and the effect of sulfur sources on the growth of Neurospora crassa cultured with selenite. (C.H.)

• Research Organization: South Dakota State Coll., Brookins
• NSA Number: NSA-15-012694
• OSTI ID: 4075474
• Report Number(s): TID-11883
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
ARSENIC
BACTERIA
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMATOGRAPHY
METABOLISM
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS 32
PLANTS
PROTEINS
RATS
SELENIUM 75
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SOILS
SULFUR 35
TISSUES
TOXICITY
TRACER TECHNIQUES
YEASTS